The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-10-24
WEST POINT CANDIDATES
THE TRYING ORDEAL THEY HAVE
TO UNDERGO.
Temper and Courage of the "Plebe'
Are Taxed.
From, the Ne,o York Times.


a candidate at West Point is initiated into
the mysteries of cadet manners, ways and
life-amusing to the initiators, cadets ma
tured by years experience at the Point,
and who now repeat the practice put upon
them at their entrance, with such additions
as their ingenuity suggests; and amusing
also TO the subject initiated, the victim of
cadet FRANKS, if he senSibly looks upon them
simply as pranks, and not as malicious af-
fronts directed personally at him Many
an aspiring Major General in embryo APP
proacheS the scene of his prospective ma
circulation with feeling at heart akin to
fear, or with that Undesirable sensation of
unknown, unseen danger lowering near
From the day he received his notification
from the Secretary of the War to present
himself at West Point for examination by
q certain date, 'if he still desires the APP
pOntment,n he has read all he could find
relative to the Academy and eagerly I'M
bfbed all tales more experienced persons
have narrated for his benefit. And the
first and leading feature of these recitals,
to his mind, is severity to candidates. The
pride of his native village, he walked boldly
up its one street, head in air, self-possessed
with what he fondly imagines to be a mill
miring but less fortunate villagers point to
him and Whisper He is goin' to West
Pint in June" He receives their homage
as his Just due, while perchance his inner
self rebukeS him and his near future APP
pears before his minds eye. For
now he will be dragged from his high estate,
shorn of his newly acquired dignity made
to grovel in the dust with depressed foes,
with arms motionless by his sides and the
palms of hands spread broadly to the front,
to march to and fro in squad drill, at the
mercy of certain cadet drilImasters whom
his imagination pictures as fiends in human
form. But his good-byes finally said, with
trunk well packed by loving hands with all
the articles love and care suggest, and
which, being ''ununiform,n will never
emerge from the gloom of the cadet truck
room, he has left his home, he has arrived
at the Point, and reported his presence to
the courteous officials at the Administration
Building Thence he is escorted to cadet
barracks in company with some dozen fell
low-candidates and turned over to the some
what calloused mercies of the cadets ap-
pointed in charge of candidates. Follow
ing their guide, an orderly, the little band
crosses the area of cadet barracks amid
shouts from observant cadets of ''Hil new
lot of beasts, fellows! come and see 'em, and
arrives at the door of one of the bar
rack divisions: qnd there they halt, looking
anxiously to their guide for further instruc-
tions.
''Theres your place." he says, oratori-
cally, with sweeping wave of his hand to-
ward the wide open door. "All you have to
do is to go in tlIAs first room, one at a time
and report After delivering himself OF
this information he departs.
All is quiet in that first room-the ''of
flee, as it is termed by cadets. You would
not suspect that it contains a living being,
but it does, several of them-young, lively,
aggravating yearling cadets, who are wait
ing quietly thrugh impatiently for the first
candidate to present himself, that they may
receive him in a royal style, one befitting
his rank and station. Well, nothing is
gained by representations; so evidently
thinks one young fellow as he leaves the lit
tie group, and, advancing to the door, opens
it and enters the Office. Where now is that
silence that erstwhile resigned supreme?
The chorused outburst of shouts and yells
that greetS his ears can be likened to nothing
so much as the growing and barking of a
pack of bulldogs let loose upon their prey.
So rush the yearlings wildly forward, as
though to eXterminate the rash newcomer.
No articulate sound can be distinguished, as
the cadets crowd around him, pouring forth
such volume of sound from their braZen
throatS as he has never heard before. Con-
fusion reigns supreme, and then ceases as
guished by gilt stripes upon his arms, ad-
vances and fieroely inquiries:
What do you mean by entering without
knocking! Step out there, sir, and try it
again.
Amazed, dumfounded, the candidate
meekly obeys. Where now the air of as
Surance with which he was wont to declare
that ''he wouldn't stand any of their non
sense. They would treat him as a gentle
man or they would rue itF It's gone 1t
always goes. There has yet to come to the
Academy the first candidate who will "stand
upon his muscle" as he has avowed he
would. Our particular applicant for mar
tial honor meekly knocks at the door and as
meekly obeys the spirited shout to come
in" His entrance is followed by his inspec-
ton. BY some luchy inspiration he has
left his grip in the hall, buttoned his coat
up to his chin, and carried his hat in his
hand. The principal requirements are full
filled
'What do you wants" is the next query
propounded to him.
Il came in to report" he timidly ad-
mits.
why don't you report then? What are
you standing there like bump on log for?
What's your namen
John Smith, sir"
Odd you bring Pocahontas with youW
This sally provokeS roar OF approving
laughter from the listening yearling, and
John Smith thinks to propitiate them by
joining family in the merriment. That is
the opportunity the yearlings have been
waiting for
Drop that smilesirl Wipeit Off Don't
you dare to presume to grin! If had such
teeth as you Ia keep my mouth shut for all
eternity There's nothing here for you to
laugh at! No. sir; this is pretty serious
business for you"
So John Smith thinks, and he becomes dis
creetly sedate
Where are you fromg
New Jersey, sir" replies John, scarcely
audible
On that accounts for it. We ought'nt
to expect any more from you You needn't
unpack your trunk, for your stay will be
short. There never was but one New Jersey
man passed the prelim, and he was found
the next January. That's enough for you:
Gitr and John Smith "gits" accompanied
by one of his inquisitors, who escorts him
up two flights of iron stairs to room where
he leaves him to his own device for the time
being
Such a room! He had heard that cadets
We're allowed no carpets, no upholstered
furniture; but such miracle in~the way OF
Spartan simplicity of furnishing had never
been his lot. Four whitewashed walls, a
ceiling ditto, and bare floor. Opposite the
door, the steam heater, and black, gaping
fireplace; behind the door, large wooden
rxxfiAL 80 off nnd